India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate the Chenab Bridge, the world’s highest railway bridge, on 6 June 2025 in Jammu and Kashmir. This visit marks his first to the region following the controversial Operation Sindoor.
The bridge, spanning 1,315 meters and rising 350 meters above the Chenab River, forms part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link (USBRL). Modi will also flag off the Vande Bharat train between Katra and Kashmir during the event.
Indian media presents the project as a step toward development and normalcy. However, Kashmiri leaders and rights groups criticize it as a tool for control. They argue it strengthens India’s grip over the disputed region through strategic infrastructure.
Security has been intensified across the valley. Locals remain wary, fearing the bridge will ease rapid troop movement and increase military surveillance. Since the revocation of Kashmir’s autonomy in August 2019, such projects raise deep concern among residents.
Chenab Bridge Sparks Fears of Occupation, Not Progress
Although the Indian government claims the USBRL will improve connectivity, critics say it serves military aims. The dual-use nature of the project, they argue, prioritizes logistics over local empowerment.
Moreover, fears of demographic change are growing. Since 2019, New Delhi has pushed policies to settle non-Kashmiris in the valley. Activists compare the strategy to the “Israeli model,” aimed at altering the region’s Muslim-majority identity.
Kashmiris also fear that infrastructure like the Chenab Bridge will speed up militarization. It may allow New Delhi to deploy forces quickly and suppress dissent more effectively. This adds to the long-standing mistrust between the local population and Indian authorities.
India’s attempts to portray peace through infrastructure remain unconvincing for many. Critics view this as a communications campaign to divert attention from ongoing rights violations.
Ultimately, while India hopes the Chenab Bridge will symbolize progress, many Kashmiris see it as a gateway to deeper occupation and long-term instability.
